Years before the Stonewall Riots, gay culture was alive and thriving -- underground -- in New York City's bar culture. The "Sip-in," modeled after the Sit-in protests of the Civil Rights movement, was an effort to bring gay culture and rights out of the shadows and into the mainstream. Led by Dick Leitsch, President of the New York chapter of the Mattachine Society, the demonstration sought to show how gays were mistreated for something as simple as buying a drink. 

We spoke with Randy Wicker, activist and author who was present for the demonstration. He talked about the motivations for the Sip-in, gay rights demonstrations before and after, and the difficulties of being turned away.